Page 19 of True Stars Collide

Zoe’s mouth dropped open. “Mom, no, I’m not pregnant. And even if I was, I wouldn’t feel compelled to get married. Sheesh.”

“Okay, okay. Just checking. Well, good luck recording. I’m so proud of you, honey. I love you. Call me soon.”

“I will. I love you too.”

She tossed the phone onto the King sized bed, leaned against the window frame, and soaked in the breathtaking view. Liam’s Spanish style mansion sat high on a bluff, with views of the rugged Southern California coastline. Towering palm trees, jagged cliffs, and pounding surf. Time to pull it together and return to the studio.

“I didn’t think you were involved with anyone?” A gruff British accent said from behind her.

She whirled around and Liam stood in the open doorway, looking deliciously disheveled. He wore his usual dark jeans and concert t-shirt, today’s was The Doors. His golden hair needed a trim, and a few days of scruff darkened his chiseled jawline.

“Ooh, is my husband feeling possessive?” She raised an eyebrow.

He strode into the room, his eyes narrowed. “I just heard you tell someone you love them. We’re married, so that’s a problem.”

“Aren’t you in a mood today?” And why did the idea of him feeling possessive kick up tingles in her belly?

He stopped a few feet away from her and scrubbed his hands through his hair. “Sorry. So who was it?”

No need to tease him further. They had a full afternoon and evening of recording ahead of them. Even though a teeny part of her enjoyed his apparent discomfort.

“Don’t worry, hubby. It was my mom. And it was a tough conversation because she cannot figure out why I’d get married in Vegas so quickly, but I couldn’t tell her the truth.”

His thick brows drew together. “Yeah, that is tough. Did you figure out a way to avoid lying to her?”

“Yeah, I skirted around it and was really vague. But it looks like we’re going to visit my mom after we finish the album.”

He paled. “Visit your mom?”

She threw back her head and laughed. “I never thought I’d see the infamous Liam Jones scared. My mom is awesome. We’ll deal with the it when the time comes. No need to worry now. But you know, spouses usually meet the in-laws.”

He hissed out a breath. “I haven’t seen my parents in years, so that’s not happening. Fuck, this is getting complicated.”

She approached him, her footsteps muffled on the gorgeous indigo area rug, and gazed up at him. “It was never simple.” And he was right because she was starting to care about him.

“Let’s go back down to the studio. The guys are ready to get back to it.” He turned to the door, and she fell into step beside him.

The band. Time to focus on the end goal. They crossed through the middle courtyard of Liam’s home, and through a wide buttercream-colored hallway with high ceilings and white-oak floors. Sounds arose from the open doorway leading downstairs to the vast, modern recording studio where the rest of the band, sound engineer, and Ian awaited them. Time to tuck away her discussion with her mom and shift her focus to the music.

“There you two lovebirds are,” Ian winked. “Everything’s set up for Shine, but I’ve made a few tweaks, so it sounds more consistent with the rest of the record.”

Zoe’s temper flared. Again? “I thought we’d settled that the song would be recorded how I wrote it. How I intended it?”

Ian shook his head. “Just a few minor things. Take a look.”

She marched over to him and snatched up the paper, struggling to keep her anger under control. Maybe it was something minor she could live with, but hadn’t she sacrificed enough? Her song’s inclusion was part of the whole damn contract.

Liam had followed her and read over her shoulder. “Those aren’t little tweaks. You changed the bridge.”

She flung the sheets onto the counter. “And the chorus. You’ve changed the whole feel of the song. No.”

Ian held up both hands. “The essence of the song will feel the same, you’ll see. You’re new to the alt-rock––”

“Don’t patronize me, Ian. I am not new to the genre.” Heat suffused her cheeks and her hands curled into fists. No way would she allow the management to manipulate her music. Never again. She was already sacrificing her personal life for the band. They would not sacrifice her song.

Liam stepped in. “Absolutely not, mate. You heard her. We’ll record the song the way Zoe wrote it. Not only is that stipulated in the agreement, but we discussed it. We performed it and the fans loved it.”

Ian opened his mouth to respond.

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